👋 Haisai! I’m CULT.
Today, I thought it might be a good idea to pack a lunch before embarking on a journey along Route 58, so I’m writing this. Many travellers head straight to the north as soon as they arrive at Naha Airport, and I’ve noticed, after meeting various travellers recently, that they seem to be in such a rush that they skip meals. So, I’ve prepared this for you. Before you head north on Route 58, why not visit a delightful local bento spot, Eichan Tempura (えいちゃんてんぷら).
It’s only open from 8 AM to 1 PM on weekdays, but if you can visit during those hours, I highly recommend it. The prices are reasonable, and you can enjoy a truly local bento that the locals eat.

📌 Location and Opening Hours

Aichan Tempura is located just to the left on the map, visible as Route 58. It’s a place where you can briefly park on the roadside, so you can quickly purchase a bento. Please note that only cash is accepted, and it is closed on weekends and Japanese public holidays. This area has many local workplaces, so the business hours are strictly aligned with the times when office workers buy their lunch. You can actually purchase a bento from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. [Google Map]

This is a place I used to visit quite often when I was working at my previous company. I was unexpectedly given a same-day dismissal notice by the owner, which was quite surprising, but now I’m living a more enjoyable life. It was a peculiar company where more than ten employees were let go each year 🤣
Anyway, it’s a decent lunchbox shop, so do give it a try. My recommendation is to visit before 11:30 AM. They have limited sales every day.

There are three famous bento shops nearby, but unfortunately, the owners are quite elderly, which is a concern. In a few years, we might not be able to enjoy these delicious and affordable bentos. I feel quite fortunate, as I might be part of the last generation to experience this.

Lunchboxes always excite me with their variety. The menu changes daily, so I can’t recommend a specific dish. You’ll need to choose what appeals to you. The number of side dishes is somewhat random as well. Even if you buy two of the same, the number of side dishes might differ slightly. Since a grandmother prepares each one by hand, it’s best to just go with it.

🍱 A Variety of Lunchboxes

This is a fish-based lunchbox. It’s hard to define a specific name for it because the side dishes change slightly each day. The side dishes depend on the grandmother’s choice. Most lunchboxes range between 300-600 yen, but with fish included, it’s usually 600 yen. It’s more generous and tastier than convenience store lunchboxes.

It’s a simple bento.
These usually cost around 400 yen. It feels like a lunchbox hastily packed by a busy mum in the morning, but if you’re still hungry after a fish bento, having this as well will fill you up. The purple item on the left is a fritter made from beniimo sweet potato, which is a speciality of Okinawa, though it can be a bit of an acquired taste. It’s often sold as a souvenir snack.

Related post: Don Quijote Beniimo Tart

This is a surf and turf style lunchbox. It includes a bit of fish, a bit of pork, and a bit of chicken. Although the lunchbox changes daily, this one is available almost every day. Perhaps it’s because it’s so popular.

It’s a style similar to bibimbap that Koreans would enjoy.
Unfortunately, without gochujang, it can’t be mixed like bibimbap, but the spinach is incredibly tender, making it easy to eat with the rice at the bottom of the lunchbox. With gochujang, this would truly be a perfect Korean dish.

It’s a bento in the style of tonkatsu, but… the side dishes around the tonkatsu change daily. True to its name, there’s a bit of tempura from E-chan Tempura, along with oden and sausages. You can really try a variety of things in this small bento.

This is a chicken katsu style bento.
Below, there’s also goya champuru, a traditional Okinawan dish. Next to it, there’s a bit of Okinawa soba, making it a fusion of Okinawan and Japanese styles. Of course, the side dishes change daily, so who knows what tomorrow will bring.

This is a karaage bento.
I think the fried dishes at a place called E-chan Tempura are particularly delicious, just like the name suggests.

Next is the fried fish. Personally, I love fried fish, so this bento is my favourite. The fried fish is boneless, making it even easier to enjoy.

This is a bento that seems to be made from leftover side dishes from making various other bentos, and it’s great for those with a smaller appetite. I have this as my second bento. Just one isn’t quite enough for me, as I tend to eat a lot.

This is donburi.
I find it delicious, but it might taste a bit bland for Korean palates. Although it’s topped with tonkatsu and egg, the portion of rice is quite large, so if you don’t distribute the toppings well, you might end up with a lot of leftover rice. Make sure to balance it out!

These are triangular rice balls. Such lunch boxes are the cheapest at 300 yen. I think they might be the best travel companion.

Since I’ve tried most of the menu at Eijang Tempura, there are some duplicate photos. I must have taken many pictures because it was delicious, right?
It was a delightful lunch spot with delicious bento boxes that I enjoyed. If you’re in Okinawa and wondering what to eat before heading north, or if you arrive in Naha early in the morning and are curious about what the locals eat, I recommend giving it a visit. It’s tasty.

That’s it for today. I’ll wrap up here and return tomorrow with more Okinawa travel news. Matayasai 👋